PESHAWAR — In a major breakthrough for the ongoing “Azm-e-Istehkam” campaign, Pakistan’s security forces eliminated 13 terrorists during two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday, the operations targeted members of the state-designated “Fitna al Khawarij” (banned TTP), describing them as foreign-sponsored proxies aimed at destabilizing the region.
وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کا خیبر پختونخوا میں 13 خارجیوں کو ہلاک کرنے پر سیکیورٹی فورسز کو خراجِ تحسین
“سیکیورٹی فورسز نے اپنی پیشہ ورانہ مہارت سے بنوں اور باڑہ میں دہشتگردوں کو جہنم رسید کیا۔ ملک کی حفاظت کے لیے سیکیورٹی فورسز دہشتگردی کے خلاف سیسہ پلائی دیوار کی مانند ہیں۔”
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) April 1, 2026
Key Highlights
-
Operation Bara (Khyber): 10 terrorists killed during an intense exchange of fire in the Bara area.
-
Operation Bannu: 3 terrorists eliminated in a secondary IBO within the Bannu district.
-
Counter-Terror Mandate: The operations are part of the federally approved “Azm-e-Istehkam” vision to wipe out militancy.
-
Rising Violence: KP recorded a sharp increase in fatalities, rising from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025, according to the CRSS Annual Security Report.
-
Sanitization Underway: Security forces are currently combing the areas to eliminate any remaining sleeper cells.
Surgical Precision in Khyber and Bannu
The first and most significant engagement took place in the Bara area of the Khyber district. Acting on credible intelligence regarding the presence of militants, troops effectively engaged the khawarij location. Following a heavy exchange of fire, 10 terrorists were killed.
In a simultaneous effort to deny militants any space in the southern districts, a second IBO was conducted in Bannu. Security forces successfully neutralized three additional terrorists in that sector. The ISPR noted that these individuals were involved in high-profile attacks against law enforcement agencies and security personnel.
Pakistani security forces killed 13 terrorists in two intelligence-based operations in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/4TPKVVwoey
— Pakistan TV Digital (@PakistanTVcom) April 1, 2026
The National Context: Azm-e-Istehkam
These operations come at a time when the state has intensified its counter-terrorism campaign under the “Azm-e-Istehkam” vision, which received formal approval from the Federal Apex Committee on the National Action Plan. The military’s media wing reiterated that the campaign against “foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism” will continue at full pace to ensure national stability.
The terminology “Fitna al Khawarij” has been officially adopted by the state to describe the banned TTP, highlighting the ideological and security threat they pose as “outsiders” to the Islamic and national fabric of Pakistan.
Escalating Security Challenges in 2026
The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has faced a turbulent security landscape over the past year. Data from the Annual Security Report 2025 by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) underscores the gravity of the situation:
-
Casualty Surge: Total fatalities in KP rose by over 40% between 2024 and 2025.
-
Targeted Attacks: Security personnel and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) remain the primary targets of these militant factions.
The recent successes in Bara and Bannu follow a series of high-impact operations in March 2026, including the elimination of 13 terrorists in five separate operations earlier in the month and five more in Lakki Marwat on March 15.
Security forces remain on high alert across the province, with sanitization operations ongoing to ensure that the “Indian-sponsored” networks are completely dismantled.
You May Like To Read: Gas Supply to Quetta and Multiple Balochistan Districts Suspended After Pipeline Sabotage
Check out our latest video:
